The latest on the Washington Nationals' triple-A affiliate in Syracuse from the Chiefs' front office.

2012: A Chiefs Odyssey–Jason’s Number 12

“Beat that, Benetti.” Really? A challenge? Well there’s no better way to one-up a person than to do approximately what he did….and do it a little better.

Ever fight your shadow?

And so, a comeback victory against Rochester it is. En garde, Brown.

#12: Tea for Four, and Four for J-Mike

One of the most entertaining aspects of a Triple-A baseball season is the release of the Opening Day roster. What prospects will be in Syracuse? What will the starting rotation be like? The question I always like to ask is, “What players who have had Major League careers?” It’s generally fun and informative to be around guys who have put on Major League uniforms. They’ve got happy memories, have learned from the best and are somewhat looser than players who have never tasted the bigs (and, thus, are a little more nervous about their legacies and where they currently stand).

This past season, two of the “previously writ large” names in Syracuse in April were Mark Teahen and Jason Michaels. Teahen was, if you ask him (and his tongue is remotely close to his cheek), was the inspiration behind Michael Lewis’ mega-hit, Moneyball. Michaels won a World Series with the Phillies. The one thing the Chiefs seemed to have was game-tested knowledge and leadership.

Congress has knowledge and leadership and is walking toward something comfortingly known as a “fiscall cliff.” This, I think, is happening because John Ratzenberger won the lottery.

Hey Normy, a round on me!

With all of that veteran impetus, though, the Chiefs opened the season 4-13. In game 18, on a rather temperate Wednesday evening in Rochester, the Chiefs went down 4-0 in the fourth inning. After two walks and a single, Mark Teahen came to the plate and did what he had done a career-high 18 times with the Royals in 2006:

It was a big one. Teahen’s grand slam tied the game. Rochester came back to score in the home half of the seventh, though. So, the game entered the eighth with the Chiefs down a run. Against new reliever Tyler Robertson, Teahen walked. Tyler Moore singled through the left side of the infield. Bryce Harper, then, attempted to give an out with a sacrifice bunt, but Rochester wouldn’t let him. Third baseman Michael Hollimon didn’t handle the bunt cleanly and everyone reached safely. Michaels was next:

Two slams. Five innings. And a 10-5 win over the Red Wings. Michaels only played 20 more games after that one in his career. He retired to become a coach in June.

The Chiefs won 11 of the 16 games last season with Rochester…..and there may be one more of those games on my list. Along with your kiss.

JB

P.S. Kevin: That you mentioned “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” without including Comedy Tonight might be the most depressing thing that’s happened to me since Hi-C stopped making Ecto Cooler.

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